Gearfuse

Much of the newest level of Big Brother-type surveillance seems overly paranoid for my taste, and this just takes it to a whole new level of suspicion. Scientists at Georgia Tech have been dabbling with an idea which is the best thing since Bird’s Ass View. The prospect of producing cyborg SpyBot moth’s, which are implanted with surveillance equipment in their larval stages of development.

The problems start when the moth makes its way out of its larval webbing. How do you control where the moth goes? Scientists are working on an answer for that exact question, with the best idea centering around some bizarre brain control which would take control of the insect’s flying route. — Andrew Dobrow

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Its name might make you think it’s some cheesy prop from a sci-fi movie, but the Phraselator P2 is no joke. Created by DARPA , the Phraselator can quickly translate your spoken English into any almost any language of your choosing.

The P2 model showcases a wind and shock resistant case that works smooth in any climate. Its 20 hour rechargeable lithium battery means you can walk around with the P2, translating remotely. 1 GB of storage and a USB port means that there is plenty of room to put your own custom language info into the device. Also a cool feature, there is no voice training needed, the Phraselator supposedly works for all voices and translates via a LED screen or through voice. — Andrew Dobrow

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The Pentagon’s own DARPA has put out a call to the public for a design concept for a shape-shifting “chemical” robot that would be able to liquify and squeeze into small areas. This robot would have static dimensions that could be changed on command, much like the robot unit from Terminator 2. The militairy already uses robots in a variety of situations, but their size and material keeps them limited for use.

The robot DARPA wants would ideally be softball sized, and be able to shift its shape and collapse up to a tenth of its size and then back to its original size in less than 15 seconds. Proposals on paper are due by May 3, 2007 with the whole sha-bang due June 2. — Andrew Dobrow

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Chinese scientists say they have discovered a way to remotely control a pigeon using electronic technology. Using micro electrodes implanted in the bird’s bird brain, the scientists can make it fly left, right, up, and down. Scientists stimulate the implants using a computer which stimulates each designated part of the brain. This is the first successful experiment of its kind, and is frankly, quite eerie. Mind readers, hypnotists, and politicians are all jumping for joy, we’re sure, for this successful mind harnessing experiment.

The U.S Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has also tried experiments in controlling animals, notably an experiment in manipulating a sharks brain waves. A similar experiment was also conducted on mice in 2003, yet the advancements in technology offer the scientists with more control. They might be bird brains they’re working with, but the pigeons are doing a fine job despite the circumstances. — Andrew Dobrow

Chinese scientists experiment with the remote control of animals [People's Daily News]